Canadians need tips on tipping: survey

15% gratuity standard among most Canadians, but it depends on the job, study finds

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 | 1:40 PM ET

CBC News

While most Canadians balk at the thought of tipping anything under the standard 15 per cent at a restaurant, it seems they are far less gracious when it comes to tipping staff in other service jobs, according to a new survey.

A recent BMO Bank of Montreal Mosaik MasterCard study found that 78 per cent of Canadians regularly leave a 15 per cent gratuity after dining out, but fewer than 40 per cent of Canadians tip cab drivers and hair stylists that much.

In fact, owners of salons get the rawest deal, with more than 54 per cent of Canadians snubbing them entirely.

For hordes of students working summer jobs in the service sector, the generosity of their patrons may have less to do with how hard they work and more to do with where they work, the Tipping Etiquette survey concludes.

Canadians may be unsure of how much to tip or whether to tip at all under certain circumstances. For instance, Canadians may tip their hair stylist, but 42 per cent of Canadians will snub an assistant, colourist, or person who shampoos their hair.

"Patrons are confused when it comes to tipping staff at a spa or a nail bar," Kristen Gale, owner of 10 Spot Nail Bar in Toronto said in a release. "People often tip only five to 10 per cent and sometimes not at all. It really should be a standard 15 per cent, just as it is in the restaurant industry."

According to Magellans.com, it is customary in North America to leave a tip between 15 and 20 per cent for services. The BMO survey found that 24 per cent of Canadians will leave nothing extra for staff following time at a spa or treatment at a nail salon.

Among those offered the worst tips, according to the Tipping Etiquette survey, are:

• Pizza and food delivery people (40 per cent of Canadians tip under 15 per cent).
• Taxi and limo drivers (40 per cent of Canadians tip under 15 per cent).
• People who offer manicures, pedicures, facials and waxing (only 13 per cent of Canadians tip higher than 15 per cent).
• Hair stylists (12 per cent of Canadians leave nothing; 30 per cent of Canadians tip less than 15 per cent).
• Hair salon owners (54 per cent of Canadians will not tip).

The BMO Mosaik MasterCard Tipping Etiquette survey was conducted by Leger marketing and sampled 1,501 English- and French-speaking Canadian adults. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.